Understanding The Bible
STUDY REFERENCE
Clarence E. Mason's "Soteriology II"
ASSURANCE

BY THE AUTHOR
Dr. Clarence E. Mason, Jr.
Philadelphia College of Bible
1970

ASSURANCE

  1. THE WORDS
    The word "assurance" occur?; seven times in the King James Version: Dt. 28:66; Isa. 32:17; Acts 17:31; Col. 2:2; 1 Thes. 1:5; Heb. 6:11; 10:22.
    1. The Old Testament words;
      1. Batach - meaning to trust, to confide, Isa, 32:17.
      2. Aman - the primary meaning is to stay, to support. The intransitive meaning is to stay oneself, to be stayed up, supported; hence, to be firm, stable, such as one may safely lean upon, Dt. 28:66.
    2. The New Testament words
      1. Pistis - meaning faith, Acts 17:31.
      2. Plerophoria - meaning full assurance or most certain confidence, Col. 2:2; Heb. 6:11; 10:22.
         
  2. A DISTINCTION
    There is a distinction between assurance and eternal security. Eternal security is a doctrine which means that one who is saved can never be lost. Assurance is our realization of a salvation in which we will be eternally kept.

    Assurance, therefore, is a word of experience. Eternal security is a word of fact based on doctrine. We are studying eternal security, but we will call it assurance:
     
    1. Because it is the scriptural word.
    2. We can approach eternal security definitely on the ground that deals with assurance.
       
  3. THE USAGE OF THE WORD ASSURANCE
    1. The full assurance which is the result of faith, Heb. 10:19-22; 2 Tim. 1:12,
    2. The full assurance of understanding. Col. 2:2; cp. Col. 1:9.
      1. A spiritual understanding of God's declarative sentence, Jn. 5:24.
      2. A spiritual understanding of God's omnipotence, Jn. 10:28-29; Rom. 8:29-30; 14:4; 1 Pet. 1:3-5.
      3. A spiritual understanding of God's love will make for assurance, Rom. 5:8-10.
      4. God's faithfulness to Christ gives assurance, Jn. 17:9-12,15,20; Jude 1; Rom. 8:1.
      5. The finished work of Christ gives assurance, Heb. 9:26; 1 Pet. 3:18; Acts 13:38-39.
      6. An understanding of Christ's resurrection and what occurred in it is a fact which brings assurance.
        1. The life which we have in the Lord Jesus Christ is His resurrection life, Col. 2:12-13; 3:4; Rom. 6:9.
        2. There is the matter of our union with Christ, Rom. 5:19; 6:5.
      7. Christ's present ministry makes for assurance.
        1. Christ is the Mediator, 1 Tim. 2:5.
        2. Christ is the Advocate, Heb. 9:24; 1 Jn. 2:1. c. Christ is the Intercessor, Jn. 17:9, 15,20; Lk. 22:31-32; Jn. 14:19; Heb. 7:25; Rom. 5:10.
      8. The work of the Holy Spirit is a ground for our assurance.
        1. The Holy Spirit regenerates.
          1. Born of God, Jn. 1:13.
          2. Born of the water and of the Spirit, Jn. 3:3-6.
          3. Washed in the laver of regeneration, Ti. 3:4-6
        2. Baptized into the body of Christ, 1 Cor. 12:13.
        3. Sealed by the Spirit, Eph. 4:30.
        4. Indwelt by the Spirit, Jn. 7:37-39.
    3. The full assurance of hope, Heb. 6:11; 2 Cor. 1:10; 2 Tim. 4:8, 18; 1 Pet. 1:3.
       
  4. THE OBJECTIONS TO THE DOCTRINE OF ASSURANCE
    1. Professors
      Hebrews 6:4-6 - these are professors who have gone far, but not far enough. They could never come into Christianity again as a new thing. They would have to return unto something that they had forsaken, Mt. 25:1-13; 7:22-23.
    2. Apostates, Heb. 10:26
    3. Dwelling in our own sinfulness
      1. Salvation rests upon justification and not sanctification. It is wholly of God, by grace through faith, and rests on a trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour, 1 Jn. 3:1-2.
      2. God's ultimate purpose in salvation is conformity to His Son, Rom. 8:29.
      3. A growth in grace on the part of the child of God will undoubtedly increase his own recognition of sin. Paul said: 1 Cor. 15:9, "I am the least of the apostles"; Eph. 3:8, "I am less than all saints"; 1 Tim. 1:15, "I am the greatest of all sinners. "
         
  5. DEFINITION
    Assurance is the believer's full conviction that he is in the present possession of a salvation in which he will be eternally kept and this assurance is the result or effect of his perfect righteousness in Christ Jesus.
     
  6. EVIDENCE OF SALVATION WHICH BRINGS ASSURANCE
    1. Knowledge of God as Father, Mt. 6:32; 7:11; Gal. 4:6
    2. Reality of prayer, Eph. 6:17-18; Rom. 8:26-27
    3. An understanding of the Word and experience thereof, Jn. 16:12-15; Lk. 24:32,45; 1 Jn. 2:27
 

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